Drain pipe cleaner



June 19, 1934. J SANGER 1,963,561

DRAIN PIPE CLEANER Original Filed Nov. 19, 1931 mm ///////////////A Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE Application November 19, 1931, Serial No. 575,994 Renewed November 15, 1933 7 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for cleaning drain pipes, fiues, sewers or the like, and more particularly to the type of drain pipe cleaner employing a relatively long closely coiled wire cable of required flexibility and strength to permit it to be worked into and through circuitous passages for cleaning out and removing obstructions therefrom.

The principal object of the invention is to pro- 10 vide improved construction for the leading end of such coils wherein improved means are provided for connecting a relatively rigid head piece and working tool to the wire coil.

The further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of head piece affording detachable connection with a plurality of different kinds of working tools such as may be required under varying conditions and types of work to be done.

The invention also covers details of construction of certain tools or appliances used in connection with the head piece.

Other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following description proceeds. One of the difficulties heretofore encountered in the use of coil spring cleaners of the general type herein referred to is that of providing a satisfactory means for mounting and retaining the working tools or appliances at the leading end of the wire coil. This is due to the nature of the flexible coil spring, and the difiiculty of permanently connecting a relatively rigid tool supporting member to the coil in a permanent manner, without danger of twisting or breaking off while in operation. For instance, it has been proposed to weld or braze a relatively rigid head piece directly to the end of the coil, but such attempts have been-more or less unsuccessful on account of the limited contact surfaces presented by the single 0 adjacent coil of wire, and also due to the difficulty in welding the spring coil wire without seriously affecting its physical characteristics produced in its ,original heat treatment, so as to render it moi e brittle and easily broken. 7

In carrying out my invention, I provide an improved form of rigid end piece and means of connecting it to the end of the wire coil so that there is no direct or welded connection betweenthe piece, but the end piece is flexibly supported relative to a plurality of coils of said wire, and yet securely attached thereto so as to permit desired twisting, pulling or pushing of the head piece without imparting excessive strain upon the adjacent portions of the coils.

' In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a drain pipe elbow with the working end of my improved form of cleaning rod therein showing the manner in which it may be manipulated to pass by obstructions therein.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the leading end of the rod showing the extreme end coils in cross section with one form of rigid end piece connected thereto.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the form of end piece shown in Figures 1 and 2 but removed from the end of the rod.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of end piece and end imple- 7 ment detachably connected thereto.

Figure 5 is a view showing another modified form of end piece having a bore tip formed integral with said end member.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing a form of leading piece somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 2, but showing another form of tool which may be detachably mounted thereon.

Figure '7 shows still another form of detachable tool which may be employed with the head piece.

Referring to details of my invention as embodied in the several figures of the drawing, it will be observed that I employ a long coil of wire 10 having its coils normally in close relation so as to form a flexible rod or cable capable of forcing the head end of the rod through the drain pipe or passageway to be cleaned. The operating end of the rod may be manipulated by sliding handles or the like generally employed for this purpose, details of which need not be herein described as they form no part of the present invention.

The leading end of the rod is enlarged, as indicated at 12, said enlarged portion, for instance, having a diameter approximately twice that of the main body portion of the coil, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The outer or end coils of the enlarged portion are again reduced in diameter so that the last coil 13 is of approximately the same diameter or slightly larger than the diameter of the main body portion of the rod. The taper from the largest coils of the head to the outermost coil 13 is gradual so as to produce an approximately spherical leading end, while the taper between the body portion of the coil tothe largest coils is preferably at a less abrupt angle, as clearly shown in the several figures.

Referring now to the head piece to which my invention particularly relates, it will be observed that I provide a member 15, formed of metal, 0

having an enlarged head 16, a reduced neck portion 17 and an enlarged shoulder portion 18. The neck 17 fits within the end coil 13 and has an aperture 17 extending transversely therethrough into which is inserted the extreme end 13 of the end coil 13, said extreme end being bent at substantially right angles, so as to pass into the aperture 17*- and through the latter for a substantial portion of its length. The shoulder portion 18 is formed substantially semi-spherical in shape so as to conform in general with the spherical recess formed in the interior of the surrounding coils of wire at the upper end of the enlarged portion 12, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

With the construction above described, it will be understood that the rigid end piece 15 is flexibly and yet securely held at the end of the wire coil in such a manner as to afiord resistance to pushing, pulling and twisting forces such as are incident to the use of an implement of the character herein described. When pushed forwardly against an obstruction, the end coil 13 engages the head 16 and the adjacent coils of wire are compressed inwardly so as to provide adequate support and resistance for the head. The shoulder 18 normally fits loosely within the superimposed coils, but when the head is pulled outwardly so as to stretch the coils, the shoulder 18 of the end piece engages said superimposed coils Without causing undue strain or stress upon any one of said coils, and at the same time said head with the coils may be permitted to fiex laterally or sidewise in any direction, again without placing undue strain upon any part of the device. The head is restrained from rotation relative to adjacent parts of the coil by means of the offset end portion 13 =of the end coil 13, the resistance against rotation being increased by frictional engagement between the connected parts, particularly when the coil is either under pulling or pushing stress.

It will be understood, of course, that the particular form of the leading head may be varied in accordance with the particular requirements and the type of cleaning to be done. In the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the leading head 16 is substantially spherical in shape and is provided with a laterally extending slot 20 opening at the upper end adapted to receive a variety of working tools or appliances.

The form of appliance shown in Figures 1 and 3 consists of a twisted bit member 25 having a leading edge 26 axially curved in one direction, a following edge 27 axially curved in the opposite direction, and a relatively fiat shank 28 which is adapted to fit within the slot 20 and be secured therein, as by a screw 21 extending through the head 16. This form of appliance is particularly effective in assisting the forward passage of the rod through and around circuituous passages and is, for instance, illustrated in Figure 1 where the tool must pass around an elbow 11 and over an upright shoulder on the attached pipe 11. By rotating the flexible rod 10 with the twisted blades 26 and 27 of bit 25, the device will be directed forwardly and be carried over obstructions such as the shoulder of pipe 11 as just mentioned. Rotation of the head causes the leading blade 26 to work its way over such a shoulder or obstruction as shown in Figure 1, being assisted in this operation by the following blade 2'7 which, as will be noted in Figure 3, preferably extends laterally a substantial distance beyond the side of the head 15. This arrangement causes the head to be lifted bodily or elevated from the adjacent surface with which it is engaged each time the head is rotated, which lifting movement greatly assists in lifting the leading blade 26 over obstructions. It will be noted further that the following blade 27 is arranged so that its under surface 27 meets the adjacent side of the head at an obtuse angle so as to permit the tool to pass over obstructions readily while being withdrawn. The bit 25 is particularly efiicient in cutting through and clearing away such obstructive matter as grease, sand, dirt or the like, and for dislodging larger solid materials.

In the form of attachment shown in Figure 4, the head 15 is of the same general character as far as its attachment to the coil is concerned, but is provided with a screw socket in which may be detachably mounted a stud 31 carrying an open coil tip 32 thereon. A tip of this character may be found of especial benefit in working through obstructions of grease and other semi-solid materials.

In the modified form of head piece 15 shown in Figure 5, the head itself is formed of a plurality of cutting blades 35, 35 diverging adjacent the neck portion 17 and meeting again at their outer ends so as to form a hollow cage-like structure, as clearly shown in said figure. This type of appliance shows that the end portion 15 of the head piece may itself be formed in a variety of shapes depending upon the particular purpose for which it is to be employed.

In the modified form shown in Figure 6, the head piece 15 is provided with a transverse slot 20 somewhat similar to the form shown in Figure 2, but the working tool attachment utilized in this form consists of a wire swab similar to that utilized with shotgun ramrods. This attachment is particularly useful in cleaning out fiues or the like.

The modified form of working tool shown in Figure 7 comprises an elongated twisted bit 29 which is somewhat similar in principle to the type of bit shown in Figure 3, but in which the leading blades 29 is extended a substantial distance beyond one side of the head 16 so as to form in effect a combined cutting bit and hook which works its way over obstructions by rotation of the rod in a very effective manner, and is also particularly efficient in engaging and drawing out obstructive matter during withdrawal of the rod.

Although I have illustrated and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a flexible rod consisting of a continuous wire coil having an enlarged end portion with a restricted forward opening, a rigid end piece flexibly mounted on said rod, including a head, a neck portion fitting in and non-rotatably connected to said restricted forward opening, and an integral shoulder having relatively loose bearing within said enlarged portion.

2. In a device of the character described, a flexible rod consisting of a continuous wire coil having an enlarged end portion with a restricted forward opening, a rigid end piece flexibly mounted on said rod, including a head, a neck portion fitting in said restricted forward opening, and an integral shoulder having bearing within said enlarged portion, the extreme end coil having an IOU ofi'set portion yieldingly connected to said neck portion for restraining said end piece from rotation relative to said wire coil.

3. In a device of the character described, a flexible rod consisting of a continuous wire coil having an enlarged end portion with a restricted forward opening, a rigid end piece flexibly mounted on said rod, including a head, a neck portion fitting in said restricted forward opening, and an integral shoulder having bearing within said enlarged portion, said neck having a transversely extending aperture therein, the extreme end coil having an offset portion extending into said aperture and yieldingly restraining said end piece from rotation relative to said wire coil.

4. In a device of the character described, a flexible rod consisting of a continuous wire coil having an enlarged end portion with a restricted forward opening, a rigid end piece flexibly mounted on said rod, including a head, a neck portion fitting in and non-rotatably connected to said restricted forward opening, and an integral semi-spherical shoulder fitting loosely and having bearing within said enlarged portion, and means formed in said head for detachably connecting a working tool therein.

5. In a device of the character described, an elongated rod formed of a closely coiled continuous wire, said rod having an enlarged end portion converging in a restricted forward opening, a head piece having an enlarged head, a reduced neck portion fitting within said forward opening and a semi-spherical shoulder portion fitting loosely within the interior of said enlarged end portion adjacent said neck so as to permit said end piece to flex laterally relative to said coils, but with said shoulder portion flexibly retained by a plurality of superimposed converging coils of said enlarged end portion.

6. In a device of the character described, an elongated rod formed of a closely coiled continuous wire, said rod having an enlarged end portion converging in a restricted forward opening, a head piece having an enlarged head, a reduced neck portion fitting within said forward opening, and a semi-spherical shoulder portion fitting loosely within the interior of said enlarged end portion adjacent said neck so as to permit said end piece to flex laterally relative to said coils,

but with said shoulder portion flexibly retained.

by a plurality of superimposed converging coils of said enlarged end portion, the extreme end of the outermost coil being bent at an angle and having interlocking engagement with an adjacent portion of said head piece to restrain relative rotational movement between the head piece and said rod.

7. In a device of the character described, an elongated rod formed of a closely coiled continuous wire, said rod having an enlarged end portion converging into a restricted end coil, a head piece having an enlarged head, a. reduced neck portion fitting within said end coil and non-rotatably connected therewith, and a semi-spherical shoulder portion fitting loosely within the interior of said enlarged head adjacent said neck so as to permit said end piece to fiex laterally relative to said coils, but with said shoulder portion retained by a plurality of superimposed coils at the converging end of said rod, and means formed in said head for detachably connecting a working tool thereto.

GEORGE J. SANGER. 

